Wi-Fi Standard Wi-Fi 5Speed Rating AC1200Range Up to 4,500 sq. ft. (with two satellites)Wireless Networking Security WPA2Bands Dual-Band (2.4 and 5GHz)

The AC1200 version of Netgear Orbi is a smaller, simpler version of the popular mesh system. It doesn’t offer blazing-fast speeds, but the performance is consistent, and it costs a whole lot less than other, fancier Orbi builds.

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Watch this: Best Wi-Fi Routers for 2023: A Buying Guide

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If you’re living with a slow ISP connection and you don’t need Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, or a fancy tri-band build, then there’s nothing wrong with skipping those upgrades and going with something simpler in order to save some money. I’ve tested a number of bargain picks like that in recent years — among them, , currently available in a three-pack for under $120, is my top recommendation, with the right balance of performance and value. 

If you want to get dirt cheap, you could opt for something like the  system, which costs around $40 per device, plus shipping. It’s the slowest mesh router I’ve ever tested, which wasn’t surprising, but it was still functional and able to maintain workable average download speeds at range.

Other mesh routers we’ve tested

We test lots of routers at CNET HQ — mesh and otherwise — so we’re constantly updating our rundowns of the top systems on the market. I’ll note any new mesh systems we test here as we go, along with a quick summary of my takeaways. Please note that this list includes several systems that were tested at my home during the pandemic, and not in our latest test setup.

: An early Wi-Fi 6 mesh system, the Amplifi Alien sports an attractive, gamer-friendly design, complete with touchscreen controls on the main router. At $350 for a single device, it’s a bit overpriced, but the unique build and the focus on advanced features should keep it on the radar for some.

Arris Surfboard Max AX6600: Another high-powered Wi-Fi 6 system with an upright, cylindrical design, the Surfboard Max Pro was able to deliver fast speeds to other Wi-Fi 6 devices in my tests, but the performance was inconsistent with earlier-gen Wi-Fi 5 devices. I also didn’t like the Ethernet jacks on the bottom of the device, which force you to bend your cables to the extreme in order to plug the router in.

Asus ZenWifi XD5: The ZenWifi XD6 is close to the Eero 6 Plus in both specs and price, and at $300 for a three-pack, it’s one of the more affordable Wi-Fi 6 devices you’ll find. Its performance, however, was less consistent across the home. In the garage, I only got 284Mbps upload speeds with the XD5 compared to 494Mbps in the living room, while the Eero 6 Plus returned 706 and 486Mbps for the same price.

: The middle child from the Asus family of Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers, the ZenWifi XD6 is a dual-band mesh system. It won’t give you the tri-band build of the ZenWifi XT8, nor will you get that system’s multi-gig Ethernet jack. Still, the system performed as well as any dual-band mesh router I had ever tested when I first reviewed it, so it isn’t a bad pick by any stretch. At less than $400, it’s a decent price for a high-performance system.

: One of the most powerful ZenWifi systems, the tri-band XT8 performed well in our speed tests, and was among the first mesh routers to include multi-gig Ethernet WAN ports on each device. Available in a two-pack for about $350, the former CNET Innovation Award winner is a reasonable midrange pick in 2023, but it isn’t quite as good a value as the TP-Link Deco W7200 or the Eero 6 Plus.

: Amazon’s most powerful Eero model to date, the Eero Pro 6E did an excellent job in our speed tests, finishing toward the top in just about every category while also delivering a noticeable speed bump to Wi-Fi 6E devices that can connect over the 6GHz band. The smaller-sized Eero 6 Plus is the better pick for most households, but if you’re a Wi-Fi 6E power user with gigabit speeds at home, then it merits strong consideration.

Linksys Velop MX2000: Available in a two-pack for $240, the Linksys Velop MX2000, also known as the Velop Atlas 6, is decent enough as baseline Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers go, but you’ll find better value and faster speeds if you shop around. 

: Originally released as the Netgear Orbi 850 series, and recently updated to the 860 Series, both generations of Netgear’s flagship AX6000 mesh router offer strong performance, but I wasn’t as impressed with the system’s speeds on a gigabit network, where several systems that cost less have managed to outperform it in my tests. Even so, this is one of the most consistent mesh routers I’ve tested, with reliable speeds from test to test. If that type of steady performance is what you’re after, then it belongs high on your list.

How to choose a mesh Wi-Fi router

Performance and value are probably the first things you’ll look for as you shop for a mesh router, but there are other factors worth taking into consideration as well. Take features, for instance. Mesh routers typically don’t come with many unique bells and whistles, but there are some standouts. The Amplifi Alien mesh router from Ubiquiti is a good example — apart from a unique-looking build, it features touchscreen controls on the front of each device, along with a feature called Teleport that lets you establish a VPN-style connection to your home network when you’re traveling. That’s a useful trick that lets you make use of your home network’s security capabilities when you’re connecting to a public Wi-Fi network.

Speaking of security, if you’re buying a new router, then it’s worth looking for one that supports the latest encryption standards. Most of the new models released in the last year or two support for stronger defense against things like brute-force hacking attempts — I’d want a model like that if it were me making the upgrade.

As for setup, don’t worry too much about it, if at all. Just about every new router, mesh or otherwise, will come with a convenient companion app that’ll walk you through the setup process in a matter of minutes. From there, you’ll have simplified network controls just a few taps away, allowing you to turn a guest network on and off, manage parental controls or change your network password. Just keep in mind that router apps like these will often glean lots of data from your networking habits for marketing and ad targeting purposes — if you’re privacy-minded, it might be worth checking the app’s privacy policy to see if you can opt out of data collection altogether.

There are a number of other factors that we take into consideration whenever we test a mesh router. Latency is a good example. I run each of my speed tests to the same server, which gives me a good, comparative look at how quickly each one is able to send and receive data. Most of the mesh routers I’m testing these days do just fine, with average latency usually coming in between 15ms and 20ms per ping, but some systems will see latency spikes when they’re routing your connection through a satellite extender. That means connecting to a mesh system at range might not be the best bet for gamers, or for anyone else particularly concerned with latency.

Something else to think about as you shop is data security and privacy. is the newest encryption standard for web traffic, and most of the newest mesh routers on the market offer it. If you’re buying a new router of any kind at this point, that’s a standard worth prioritizing.

The bottom line on mesh routers

If your Wi-Fi is struggling to reach every room in your house, a mesh Wi-Fi system is the best solution for spreading your internet around. The best model for most homes is the TP-Link Deco W7200, a two-piece system that performed extremely well in our tests for around $200. The Eero 6 Plus is a three-piece system that has consistently returned solid speeds in our tests and retails for about $200. It’s not quite as fast as the TP-Link, but with an extra mesh device, it’s a better fit for larger homes.

Mesh router FAQs 

Got questions? Look me up on Twitter (@rycrist) or send a message straight to my inbox by clicking the envelope icon on my CNET profile page. In the meantime, I’ll post answers to any commonly asked questions below.

Why should I choose a mesh router instead of a regular router?

With multiple devices working together to spread a strong, usable connection across a larger space, a mesh router is usually better than a single, stand-alone router, especially in medium to large homes. In a home or apartment that’s smaller than 1,500 square feet or so, a mesh router might be more hardware than you need.

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Does mesh Wi-Fi replace your router?

Yes — a mesh router will replace your existing router.

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What’s the difference between a mesh Wi-Fi system and a Wi-Fi extender?

While both aim to spread your Wi-Fi connection around your home more completely than a basic router, a mesh Wi-Fi system is more effective at doing it. Mesh systems are complete replacements for your Wi-Fi router, while an extender simply re-broadcasts your existing Wi-Fi signal in another part of the home. Your devices won’t automatically switch between the two Wi-Fi broadcasts, so you’ll have to manually switch every time you want to use the Wi-Fi upstairs. With a mesh system, your devices will automatically connect to the closest node.

How long do mesh routers last?

A good router, mesh or otherwise, should last at least five years, if not longer. The key thing is to watch for regular firmware updates from the manufacturer to keep your network security up to date. If your router isn’t receiving those, then it’s probably a good idea to start looking for a new one.

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Do you lose speed with mesh Wi-Fi?

Just like with a regular router, your mesh Wi-Fi speeds will dip as you move farther away from whichever device in the setup is wired to your modem. That said, the satellite extenders will help boost speeds at range by providing a more reliable connection back to the modem-connected router. The end effect is that your speeds should be more consistent throughout your home, with fewer (if any) dead zones where coverage drops out altogether.

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What are the disadvantages of a mesh network?

Mesh routers are good for offering consistent speeds throughout your entire home, and the best of the bunch are capable of hitting gigabit speeds. But single-point, stand-alone routers usually cost less than mesh routers with comparable specs, so they’ll typically offer better top speeds for the price.

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